In a significant political development in Bihar, the NDA suffered its first electoral defeat since Samrat Choudhary became Chief Minister. Sonu Kumar Rai, supported by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)-led Mahagathbandhan, emerged victorious in the Legislative Council bye-election for the Bhojpur–Buxar Local Authorities constituency, defeating Janata Dal (United) nominee Kanhaiya Prasad by 340 votes.
The voting for the bye-election took place on May 12, and the counting started at 8:00 A.M. on Thursday. Out of 5,956 votes cast, Sonu Kumar Rai secured 2,486 votes, while Kanhaiya Prasad received 2,146 votes. The counting, done across 13 tables in two rounds, saw Sonu Kumar Rai maintaining a lead consistently.
Following the official announcement of the results, celebrations broke out, with RJD workers and supporters expressing joy. This win is viewed as a significant boost for the Mahagathbandhan and a setback for the NDA government in Bihar. The victory comes after the seat fell vacant when Radhacharan Seth resigned upon being elected as an MLA.
RJD Chief Spokesperson Shakti Singh Yadav praised the victory, emphasizing their confidence in winning elections conducted through ballot papers. The win was also seen as a reaffirmation of public trust and support for the RJD by the people of Bhojpur and Buxar. Kanhaiya Prasad, fielded by JD(U) with NDA support, faced defeat in the closely-fought election.
